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February 25, 2015 Trexlertown, PA - A Statement from Planned Parenthood Keystone on Gov. Wolf’s Decision to Expand the Medicaid ProgramThanks to the recent decision by Governor Tom Wolf, access to healthcare has improved for many Pennsylvania women. Last week, the new governor announced plans to extend the Medicaid insurance program, making almost half of a million more Pennsylvanians - 190,000 of them women - eligible for health care coverage. Pennsylvania was one of several states that initially did not expand the Medicaid program through the Affordable Care Act, even though the costs would be picked up by the federal government. Instead, the HealthyPA program was introduced, which upon review, proved to be costly and more difficult for individuals to qualify for coverage. The expansion of the Medicaid program in PA is good news to the tens of thousands of women who now have access to critical preventive and primary health care services including life-saving cervical cancer screenings, breast health exams, and the full range of contraceptive options. Women in Pennsylvania have waited long enough for Medicaid expansion. We are grateful that among his first acts as governor, Tom Wolf corrected a major mistake.

Leslie Brown, Interim CEO, Planned Parenthood Keystone

February 19, 2015 Scranton, PA Wilkes-Barre Times Leader - Criticism leveled at University of Scranton’s plan to eliminate health insurance coverage of any abortion

University of Scranton President the Rev. Kevin Quinn has sent out a letter to faculty announcing a plan to eliminate health insurance coverage of any abortion — coverage already restricted to cases of rape, incest or risk of the mother’s life, sparking a stinging rebuke from Planned Parenthood Keystone. The move has prompted criticism from Planned Parenthood.

February 18, 2015 - Trexlertown, PA - Statement From Planned Parenthood Keystone On The University Of Scranton’s Decision To End All Abortion Insurance Coverage

“The University of Scranton’s decision displays a cruel indifference to the women who work there. When a woman enrolls in an insurance plan, goes to the hospital, or visits her doctor, she should be confident that she’ll get the best care possible. She shouldn’t have to worry that religious restrictions will be allowed to trump her health.” “That’s especially the case here, given the university’s decision to rescind a very narrow but vital portion of its plan. The previous coverage, which was part of the university’s policy since the 1990s, did not grant full access to safe, legal abortion. Rather, it was limited and narrow in scope, covering abortion only in cases of rape, incest and to preserve the life of the mother.” “So with this decision, where is the university’s compassion for the woman who may endure tragic physical health complications, or who may suffer a difficult or violent situation? Religious restrictions put a woman’s health at risk --- often offering her less health care, less information, and fewer options when she may need them most. And decisions like this only serve to marginalize women who are faced with the deeply personal and complex decision to have an abortion.”You can read about the University of Scranton’s decision here: https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/02/16/u-scranton-moves-end-all-abortion-coverage

As part of a national effort to spotlight the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) many benefits for women and encourage eligible women to enroll, PPKey will hold enrollment events throughout much of the service area. Throughout the open enrollment period which ends on February 15, 2015, PPKey is helping women in Bucks County with in-person assistance to get them enrolled into insurance plans, and distributing information and educational materials. So far, more than 48 million women have already benefited from the preventive health benefits of the ACA, giving access to fully covered women’s health services. One in seven enrollees through the ACA Marketplace is a woman between the ages of 18 and 24. They now have access to birth control, routine well-woman physicals, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and mammograms for women over 40 – all without co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses.

ACA organizers in Bucks County are working in collaboration with the YWCA and other groups to get the word out about insurance coverage through the Marketplace.

* On January 22, 1015, the public is invited to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA on South Oxford Valley Road in Fairless Hills for an ACA enrollment event from 6 to 8 p.m.* Starting the week of January 12, ACA organizers will be at the Selecto Supermarket on Ponds Road in Bristol most mornings providing information and making appointments. * In addition to the in-person outreach efforts by PPKey, those interested can also receive information and set up appointments by calling 800.230.PLAN. You may visit plannedparenthoodhealthinsurancefacts.org. The website provides a calculator that helps visitors get a sense of what kind of financial help they can expect, specifics on what to consider when choosing a plan, information about the law and health insurance coverage.

"As a leading women’s health care provider and advocate in Bucks County, we know firsthand how women benefit from the historic advancements in the Affordable Care Act,” said Leslie Brown, interim CEO of PPKey. “We are glad to be able to provide the tools and personnel that women need to get insurance coverage,” she concluded.

Trexlertown, PA December 1, 2014Planned Parenthood Keystone Supports the Vision of an AIDS-Free Generation - Still the place to go for HIV testing

Today is World AIDS Day. Planned Parenthood Keystone (PPKey) is doubling down on its vision for a generation free of AIDS by working in partnership with young people, communities of color, and the LGBTQ community to create the healthiest generation ever.In Pennsylvania, PPKey provides Rapid HIV testing without an appointment at all 16 medical centers. Additionally, in 2013 PPKey saw nearly 12,000 individuals providing more than 2,124 hours of programming including HIV prevention programs. With 1 out of 6 people living with HIV unaware of their status, education and testing are a big part of staying healthy and empowering people to prevent the spread of HIV.

In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2014, PPKey will participate in seven community events, including three hosted by PPKey Education Department at our LGBTQ centers in the City of York, York County; Doylestown, Bucks County; and Reading, Berks County. PPKey’s highly skilled educators will conduct workshops that seek to challenge their participants’ level of knowledge about HIV, and have them determine facts from myths, to develop their sensitivities by discussing scenarios of a newly-diagnosed young person and review the history of World AIDS Day, now in its 26th year. Participants at the LGBTQ events must be between the ages of 14 and 21, be gay-friendly, and agree to the group norms. For more information about these events, contact Selina Winchester at swinchester@planitpa.org.

Though the number of people who are newly infected with HIV dropped by 38% worldwide in the last decade, people of color, women, LGBT communities and young people remain at the center of the HIV epidemic in terms of rates of infection, vulnerability, impact, and potential for change. Women of color including Latinas and African-American women remain disproportionately affected by the epidemic – despite the decline in HIV infections for all women in the U.S. Men who have sex with men, particularly young African American men, have the highest rates of HIV infection in the U.S.

As the leading women’s health care provider and advocate, Planned Parenthood is committed to reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by providing nonjudgmental testing for everyone – women, men and young people.

“Planned Parenthood Keystone is committed to fighting for healthy communities,” said Kim Custer, president/CEO. “On World AIDS Day we join partners in the U.S. and around the world in fighting for the healthiest generation ever.”

Lancaster On Line - Scared straight not right for sexed

Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2014 6:00 amIf I was subjected to any sort of sex ed growing up, I can't remember it. However, I think even this incomplete schooling was far better than Pam Stenzel's scared-straight, abstinence-only program. To me, "sex ed" seems to describe the complete antithesis of what Stenzel is doing. Telling young people that the only way not to get pregnant or contract sexually transmitted diseases is through abstinence is not teaching. Everyone has the right to make an informed and educated decision when it comes to healthy relationships and safer sex, and providing only the option of abstinence, without any dialogue regarding condoms and contraception, is taking away that right.To quote one of Stenzel's most offensive lines, "If you take birth control, your mother probably hates you." No one should be persuaded to think that birth control will make mothers hate them or that their sexuality directly influences what kind of person they are. But maybe Stenzel needs to resort to this fear tactic because abstinence-only education isn't working. A 2007 federally funded study of four abstinence-only education programs found that “youth enrolled in the programs were no more likely than those not in the programs to delay sexual initiation, to have fewer sexual partners, or to abstain entirely from sex." Not only is it not working, but we are wasting our taxpayer money on this.Young people deserve comprehensive sex ed and to learn about healthy relationships. While my school may have failed me on this subject, luckily I had well-informed peers and attended Planned Parenthood education programs. For more information about these programs, visit planitpa.org or contact a Planned Parenthood Keystone educator at education@planitpa.org.Marcella LabellarteLancaster

REGION - Planned Parenthood Keystone launched online appointment scheduling (OAS) this weekend to successful results.More than 75 appointments were made by patients seeking essential health care services such as STD and HIV testing, birth control, annual exams and more. OAS was piloted at Planned Parenthood affiliates in Wisconsin and Illinois to tremendous success. Planned Parenthood Keystone is the first of the three affiliates in the state to try online appointment scheduling.

“We are so glad to be able to provide another option for making appointments at Planned Parenthood Keystone,” said Kim Custer. “Appointments can be made even when our medical centers are closed. By launching Online Appointment Scheduling, Planned Parenthood Keystone is making it easier for everyone to access the care that they need.”

Early reports indicate that 33 percent of appointments are made after regular business hours, with nearly 60 percent of those appointments made for the same or next day. Using a smartphone or tablet, anyone using OAS will be linked immediately to Planned Parenthood Keystone medical centers at www.planitpa.org. From there, users can select the nearest medical center, and make an appointment for the time slot that works best. All necessary forms can also be downloaded at that time.

“Today’s young people use their mobile devices increasingly for just about everything. Being able to make a medical appointment at any time adds a level of convenience and flexibility to the process,” concluded Custer.

July 22, 2014 (Lancaster, PA)

For nearly an hour Tuesday morning, dozens gathered around Penn Square, in Lancaster holding bright signs that read “Not my boss’s business” The people protesting say they should be allowed all options when it comes to birth control coverage. View Fox 43 news coverage here.

July 17, 2014 (Scranton, PA)

Planned Parenthood Keystone Receives Grant from The Scranton Area Community Foundation$10,000 Will Outfit Scranton Medical Center for Electronic Medical Records

Planned Parenthood Keystone (PPKey) has received a grant from the Scranton Community Foundation to make improvements to its medical center in Scranton.The grant will outfit the medical center with technology hardware and staff training that will improve efficiency of service and the ability to reach more patients in need of care.

"Electronic Health Records (EHR) will help the Scranton medical center participate in the most advanced and systematic methods of health care information management, "said Kim Custer, President/CEO of PPKey. "It will save time on record keeping and greatly facilitate patient care between Planned Parenthood medical centers and between some of our patients' other health care providers."

PPKey completed the roll out of EHR at its medical centers last April. According to HealthIt.gov, 'when health care providers have access to complete and accurate information, patients receive better medical care. EHR can improve the ability to diagnose diseases and reduce/prevent medical errors, improving patient outcomes.'

"We send good wishes for continued success with the program," said a representative of the Foundation. PPKey is grateful for the financial support of the Scranton Community Foundation.

July 9, 2014 (Lehigh Valley, PA) - Planned Parenthood Keystone has moved its Easton medical center to 2407 Butler Street, in the Bottom Dollar shopping center. The strategic move places the medical center at a more frequented location - in the path of shoppers and customers of the businesses in the area, and with more ample accommodations for patients.

The Easton Planned Parenthood Medical Center provides essential health care for close to 2,000 women, men and young people. They turn to Planned Parenthood for: treatment and counseling of sexually transmitted diseases; testing and counseling of HIV; pregnancy tests; birth control counseling and provision; cervical cancer screening; breast exams; and for general sexuality education. "Planned Parenthood has been around for 97 years, providing birth control services to women planning their families," said Kim Custer, president/CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone. "We are truly happy to be able to continue the legacy of working to help women in Easton."

The Easton location is one of 17 medical centers run by the Planned Parenthood Keystone affiliate, with its main administrative office in Allentown. Its service area covers more than half of the state of Pennsylvania.

"Planned Parenthood Keystone will continue to provide excellent, nonjudgmental and affordable care to all patients, regardless of their status in life," concluded Custer.

June 26, 2014 - Moscow Villager, Moscow, PAThe only way to know is to get tested. Posted Jun. 26, 2014 @ 11:00 am In an effort to promote early detection and help people in the community remain healthy, Planned Parenthood Keystone will be offering free HIV testing at their medical centers on June 27 at:

Planned Parenthood Keystone will offer free HIV testing at its locations in Bensalem, Bristol Township, Quakertown and Warminster. The free services are to mark National HIV Testing Day, which is June 27. All but the Warminster location will offer free HIV testing on that day; Warminster will offer testing on June 30. Read the entire article here.

June 18, 2014 WFMZ TV for their Spanish broadcast ***ANUNCIO DE PRENSA***

While anti-abortion groups plan to rally in the nation’s capital on Wednesday to mark the 41st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, abortion rights advocates plan to toast this landmark decision in several cities across Pennsylvania.Unlike the vigil-like tone of the anti-abortion gathering, Selina Winchester of Planned Parenthood Keystone said their events strike a more celebratory tone.But she added it’s a cautionary celebration.“We do realize there’s been 160 laws passed nationwide to prevent access to abortion care, so we celebrate the fact that we do have Roe but we realize there’s a lot to be done,” said Winchester of Trexlertown, Lehigh County. Read the complete article here.

If you have questions or comments about any press releases about PPKey, please call 610.709.0609 or e-mail swinchester@planitpa.org.